Arizona Green Research Institute

Sunset during Monsoon Season

In 2012, AGRI founders Dennis and Wanda Fox began investigating and pursuing ways to allow small family operations to become proficient in food production. The synergistic production of fish and vegetables/fruits (a type of aquaponics) became a focus for their work, with an emphasis on the aquaculture (fish) side of the process.  As the popular interest and anticipated need for food self-sufficiency, non-GMO, clean, organic, and local farm-to-table food increased, Dennis and Wanda saw a need for a complete system that families, schools, and community groups could learn about, purchase, and become good at operating. They investigated many available options, but found that most currently on the market either are very elaborate and expensive or very simple with limited functionality. It became apparent that a small (family-sized to small-farm sized), efficient, and cost-effective approach to food production was needed, and the Reel Food System for Food Production was born. Arizona Green Research Institute, an Arizona non-profit corporation and IRS 501(c)(3) organization, was established in 2017.

The AGRI headquarters and research center are located in Cochise County, Arizona in the far southeast corner of the state, about 100 miles southeast of Tucson. The facilities include two wells (one grid-tied and the other solar/wind powered), a 10,000 gallon water-collection system, a 1600 square-foot research center with underground heating/cooling system, a 2500 square-foot shop, and outdoor areas for other research and development.